1 of 8

Page 2 of 3

Instead of a reprimand, I decided to teach her to swim. In two days, she was going off the low board as I went off the high. She would wait for me to hit the water before she jumped in so I could be on my way up as she was on her way down. She learned to doggie paddle on her own and by the end of the week, she could go off the board with out help. She was a hit with everyone at the pool. We never told my parents. My mother would have beaten me within an inch of my life if she saw her baby Nancy, jumping into twelve feet of water but the day would soon come when mom would find out.

For two weeks, my little sister bugged me and bugged me to let her try the high dive. I looked at her teeny little body and shook my head. One wrong move and she could break her neck. She begged. And begged. And begged. Although we were jumping in feet first, it was still dangerous. I finally decided to let her jump off the high board ONE time with me. Magic word...WITH. As we climbed the ladder, the kids in the pool got quiet. The life guards stood up on their perches and everyone watched. Nancy climbed up the ladder with me hovering and when we got to the top, she stood very still. I asked her if she was afraid and she said "no." She froze on the board and looked around. I held her shoulders and when she was ready, we stepped to the end of the board.
"I don't want you to hold me" she said and looked down into the water. "I'm a bigger girl now and can do this by myself"
I reminded her of the deal. WITH me or we don't do it at all. She sighed and agreed. I lifted her to my hip and told her to hang on tight, no matter what. I told her how she had to hold her breath a really long time and wait for my "bubbles" to come out before she could let any of hers out. She nodded her head and wrapped her arms around my neck. I told her I would let go of her once I pushed off the bottom and she could come up on her own. That is, if everything went alright. She nodded again and waited.
As I looked again at the crowd around the pool, I reminded her that she couldn't hold her breath until right before we hit the water. She nodded and smiled.
"I'm ready" she announced.
I stepped out into the air and we plunged down into the water below. She had a death grip on my neck at first but when we hit the water, she let go and my feet hit the bottom. I looked at her and saw the biggest grin I had ever seen. I pushed up and let her go. She paddled her little legs and arms and when she looked back at me, let her

Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Memoirs: Public swimming pools

1 of 8
by Susan Thrower

During the long hot summers, my father would pay the yearly fees for his children to get into the community pool. There
read more
2 of 8
by Gary Davis

Swimming was the only thing I cared about when I was eight. We had a big public pool in our neighborhood but you had to
read more
3 of 8
by Jed Eane

I met Tom Flynn at my local swimming pool in the summer of 1978. I was 13, he was a year older. The summer two years before
read more
4 of 8
by Joseph Parish

Care for a short dip in a long pool?
Are you a swimmer looking for a unusual place to partake of your favorite sport? Do
read more
5 of 8
by Charles Slavis

The Officers Club Pool
On Artillery Hill, my room was located in the bottom of the search light tower, at the top of the
read more

View All Articles on:
Memoirs: Public swimming pools

Add your voice

Know something about Memoirs: Public swimming pools?
We want to hear your view. Write_pen Write now!

Home:

Creative Writing

Memoirs: Public swimming pools

Memoirs: Public swimming pools

Related Titles: